Support device for concrete reinforcing bars

ABSTRACT

A concrete reinforcing bar support device is disclosed which includes a base supporting an upright pedestal. A lower clamping portion is supported by the pedestal which has a first rodreceiving open passageway therethrough. Resilient detents extend from the lower clamping portion to retain a reinforcing rod disposed through the first passageway. An upper clamping portion is provided which includes a pair of hook members extending from the lower clamping portion. Each of the hook members has a mouth opening in the same direction to define a second rod-receiving passageway which is normally disposed to the first passageway.

United States Patent Anderson [451 July4, 1972 [54] SUPPORT DEVICE FOR CONCRETE REIINFORCING BARS [72] Inventor: George C. Anderson, 8435 Birchcroft,

Dallas, Tex. 75231 [22] Filed: March 20, 1970 [21] Appl. N0.: 21,379

[52] US. Cl ..52/685, 52/680, 52/686, 52/719 [51] Int. Cl. ..E04c 5/16 [58] Field of Search ..52/677, 678, 684, 685, 689, 52/719, 680683, 686; 248/49, 80, 87

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,004,370 10/1961 Tinnerman 52/7 19 3,255,565 6/1966 Menzel ..52/678 3,393,489 7/1968 Oliver ..52/689 3,461,536 8/1969 Skold ..29/212 1,456,499 5/1923 Fitzgerald... .....53/200 2,375,361 5/1945 l-lillberg ..52/686 3,471,987 10/1969 Yelsma... .....52/684 1,921,538 8/1933 Priest ..52/685 1,613,351 1/1927 Klinger et a1. ..52/684 991,736 5/1911 Minnick ..248/49 3,430,407 3/1969 Berry ..52/689 3,449,882 6/1969 Ott et a1..... ..52/689 3,473,770 10/1969 Edgerton ..248/87 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,349,180 12/1963 France ..52/686 371,839 4/1932 Great Britain ..52/686 1,490,588 6/1967 France 287/54 B 264,090 8/1968 Austria 1 ..52/684 1,040,368 8/1966 Great Britain ..62/686 1,484,980 1/1969 Germany ..52/677 Primary ExaminerFrank L. Abbott Assistant ExaminerLeslie A. Braun Attorney-Richards, Harris & Hubbard [57] ABSTRACT 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PKTENTEDJUH m2 3. 6 73 7 53 INVENTOR; GEORGE C. ANDERSON ATTORNEYS SUPPORT DEVICE FOR CONCRETE REINFORCING BARS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to support devices for concrete reinforcing rods, and more particularly to support devices for clamping a pair of concrete reinforcing rods at right angles to one another.

THE PRIOR ART In the construction of concrete bodies, such as concrete floors or the like, it is normal to pour the concrete about a network of concrete reinforcing bars to increase the strength of the concrete body. A number of devices have heretofore been proposed for connecting the reinforcing bar network by means of clips or wire ties. Examples of such devices are disclosed in US. Pat. No. 1,999,508, issued to Mathews and in US. Pat. No. 3,004,370 issued to Tinnerman. Additionally, devices have been heretofore proposed which includes structure for supporting concrete reinforcing rods at a distance above the floor or ground while concrete is being poured thereabout. An example of such a device is disclosed in the US. Pat. No. 1,086,732 issued to Schoenthaler.

However, the devices previously developed for supporting concrete reinforcing rods have often not satisfactorily clamped intersecting rods together, and have often required the bending of metal members about the rods, thereby increasing the complexity of reinforcing rod installation. Moreover, problems have arisen in attempting to maintain previously developed reinforcing rod supports in upright positions, due to the fact that the prior supports tend to sink into sand floors and also due to the fact that the previous support devices constructed from metal sometimes tend to shift or tilt due to thermal expansion of the metal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a device is provided for support of intersecting reinforcing rods wherein the rods may be quickly and easily snapped into place within the device, without the requirement of additional effort in bending or otherwise deforming the device about the rods. The present support device includes a base portion which securely supports the device even upon soft surfaces such as sand. In the preferred embodiment, the device is constructed from material having relatively low thermal expansion, such as plastic.

In accordance with a more specific aspect of the invention, a device is disclosed for support of intersecting rods which includes a clamping portion having opposed walls with free end extremities defining a first rod receiving passageway which is open at the free end extremities. Detent structure extends from the opposed wall for retaining a rod within the first passageway. The free end extremities each have a hook configuration, the mouths of the hook configurations opening in the same direction to define a second rod receiving passageway extending at an angle to the first passageway. The end portions of the hook configuration are resilient to enable the insertion of a rod into the mouths thereof and to subsequently clamp the rod therein.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a device is provided to support intersecting reinforcement rods which include a base supporting an upright pedestal. A lower clamping portion upon the pedestal includes a first rod-receiving open passageway therethrough, resilient detent structure extending from the upper region of the lower clamping portion for retaining a rod within the first passageway. An upper clamping portion includes a pair of hook members extending from the lower clamping portion, with each hook member having a mouth opening in the same direction to define a second rod receiving passageway normal to the first passageway.

THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference may now be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present device illustrated as clamping two intersecting concrete reinforcing rods;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the base for the device shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the preferred embodiment of the device shown generally by the numeral 10. A circular base 12 supports an upright pedestal 14 which is comprised of four generally triangular webs l6 oriented at right angles to one another. The use of the web construction provides a pedestal of substantial strength but which is relatively lightweight. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is constructed from a plastic material such as high impact styrene configured by injection molding or the like.

A lower clamping portion 18 extends from the pedestal l4 and comprises a pair of generally circular opposed walls 20a-b with free end extremities defining a first rod receiving passageway 22 therebetween. The upper portion of the passageway 22 is open at the free end extremities. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, a concrete reinforcing rod A may be disposed within the passageway 22. A pair of detents 24a-b extend from the opposed walls 20a-b at the upper end thereof in order to retain the rod A securely within the first passageway 22. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is made from resilient plastic, and thus the reinforcing rod may be easily snapped into the passageway 22 and secure ly maintained therein by the force of the detents 24a-b.

Reinforcing ribs 26ab extend from the base 12 along the edges of opposed webs 16. The free end extremities of the sidewalls 20a-b extend upwardly into a pair of hooks 28a-b. The rib portion 26a extends upwardly about one side of the hook 28a, while an extension of the wall 20a extends upwardly into a rib portion 30a along the other side of the hook 280. Similarly, the rib 26b extends upwardly along one side of the hook 28b, while the wall 20b extends upwardly as a rib 30b along the other side of the hook 28b. Hooks 2811-17 are thus reinforced for strength, yet are resilient. The mouths of each of the hooks 28a-b open in the same direction in order to define a second passageway 32 for receiving a second rod B which extends normally to the rod A. The ends of the hooks 28ab are resilient to allow the insertion of rod B and then clamp firmly over the rod B to securely hold it in place.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a base for the present device which includes four outwardly extending feet 34. This configuration of the base allows the saving of some material in construction, yet also provides a stable base which will not sink into a soft floor such as sand or the like.

Whereas the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes and modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended to encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Apparatus for supporting intersecting reinforcing rods comprising:

a base;

a pedestal extending upwardly from the base and including a first pair of webs extending in a predetermined direction and a second pair of webs extending perpendicularly to the predetermined direction and each having a reinforced web formed along its outer edge;

an elongate, generally circular portion extending in the -predefemiined direction and along the upper ends of the first pair of webs,

said circular portion comprising free end extremities and detent means at the upper ends of the free end extremities whereby the circular portion is adapted to receive and retain a first reinforcing rod extending in the predetermined direction; and

a pair of hook-shaped portions positioned above the circular portion and opening in the predetermined direction to receive and retain a second reinforcing rod extending perpendicularly to the predetermined direction,

eachof said hook-shaped portions comprising an extension of one of the free end extremities of the circular portion which defines a first wall, an extension of the reinforcing rib of one of the second pair of webs which defines a second wall, and an extension of one of the second pair of webs which extends between and interconnects the first and second walls.

2. The apparatus for supporting intersecting reinforcing rods according to claim 1 wherein the entire apparatus comprises a unitary body of a relatively resilient plastic material.

3. The apparatus for supporting intersecting reinforcing rods according to claim 2 wherein the plastic material comprises high impact styrene.

4. The apparatus for supporting intersecting reinforcing 4 

1. Apparatus for supporting intersecting reinforcing rods comprising: a base; a pedestal extending upwardly from the base and including a first pair of webs extending in a predetermined direction and a second pair of webs extending perpendicularly to the predetermined direction and each having a reinforced web formed along its outer edge; an elongate, generally circular portion extending in the predetermined direction and along the upper ends of the first pair of webs, said circular portion comprising free end extremities and detent means at the upper ends of the free end extremities whereby the circular portion is adapted to receive and retain a first reinforcing rod extending in the predetermined direction; and a pair of hook-shaped portions positioned above the circular portion and opening in the predetermined direction to receive and retain a second reinforcing rod extending perpendicularly to the predetermined direction, each of said hook-shaped portions comprising an extension of one of the free end extremities of the circular portion which defines a first wall, an extension of the reinforcing rib of one of the second pair of webs which defines a second wall, and an extension of one of the second pair of webs which extends between and interconnects the first and second walls.
 2. The apparatus for supporting intersecting reinforcing rods according to claim 1 wherein the entire apparatus comprises a unitary body of a relatively resilient plastic material.
 3. The apparatus for supporting intersecting reinforcing rods according to claim 2 wherein the plastic material comprises high impact styrene.
 4. The apparatus for supporting intersecting reinforcing rods according to claim 1 wherein the base comprises a circular plate formed at the ends of the webs remote from the circular portion and the hook-shaped portions.
 5. The apparatus for supporting intersecting reinforcing rods according to claim 1 wherein the base comprises four feet, two extending in the predetermined direction at the lower ends of the first pair of webs and two extending perpendicularly to the predetermined direction at the lower ends of the second pair of webs. 